Hinged fixture supporting bracket



March 4, 1952 P. F. SIMPSON 2,587,912

HINGED FIXTURE SUPPORTING BRACKET March 4, 1952 P. F. SIMPSON HINGED FIXTURE SUPPORTING BRACKET 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1946 March 4, 1952 p. F S|MPS0N 2,587,912

HINGED FIXTURE SUPPORTING BRACKET Filed Nov. 50, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 4, 1952 Paul F. Simpson, Washington, Conn., assignor to The Autoyre Company, Incorporated, Oakville, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application November 30, 1946, Serial No. 713,360

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a hinged bracket for fixtures such as soap dishes, towel bars, paper holders and the like, and has special reference to a bracket for attachment to a wall or other support in which the Securing means for the 'bracket are concealed from View.

More particularly, this invention relates to a bracket comprising a supporting plate adapted to be secured to a wall or other support, a cover plate hinged to the supporting plate for enclosing the securing means therefor, together With resilient means engageable with the cover plate for maintaining the same in enclosing position or in any of' its hinged positions and, in conjunc-l tion with a latch for the cover plate, rendering the locking thereof more positive.

Brackets for fixtures are ordinarily secured to aV Wall or other support by screws or the like` in which the heads thereof are exposed to view. It is desirable to conceal such securing means from view in order that the appearancev in design of the bracket may be pleasing. Certain forms of bracket having a fixed or supporting portion for attachment to a Wall or other support and a hinged portion for carrying the fixture are disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,327,969, granted to Roy S. Sanford on August 24, 1943. Mv invention constitutes improvements in the constructions there shown, the principal object of the present application residing in the provision of a hinge construction including a resilient member whereby the movable cover plate is constantly subjected to a frictional engagement to avoid play in the pivotal connection.

Another object is to provide latching means for the cover plate, which means is also subiected to pressure of the resilient member to afford a more secure lock and to eliminate the rattle incident upon use of a non-tensioned latch.

A further object is to provide a fixture bracket as aforesaid in which a minimum number of parts of simple construction are utilized to effect the desired characteristics.

Still another object is to provide in a fixture bracket as aforesaid a resilient member concealed between the wall or other supporting vsurface and the rear of the fixed plate not only for optimum employment of available space, but to avoid tampering therewith by the user which will impair factory adjustment of the device.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a. fixture bracketY of the type herein contemplated which may be manufactured on punch presses and assembled by welding, the use of screws, rivets, or similar fastenings ybeing climi Dated Other objects and advantages of-this invention will hereinafter be more particularly pointed out and, for a more complete understanding of the characteristic features of this invention, referenc-e may now be had to the following descrip.` tion when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which latter:

Fig. l is a View in vertical medial cross-section of a bracket embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the bracket shown in Fig. k1;

Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged cross-sectional detail of the hinge shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective showing one form of my improved bracket in connection with a soap tray, and with the fixture and cover plate in normal or closed position;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the assembly of Fig. 4, but with the fixture swung outwardly and the cover plate opened;

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical medial cross section of a modified form of bracket;

Fig. '7 is a front elevational View of the cover plate 0f Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the cover plate of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a front elevational View of the spring of Fig. 6;

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of a, paper holder and the means for carrying the same on the sup-porting plate;

Fig. l1 is a partial view in perspective to indicate the manner in which the bracket may be used at each end of a towel bar;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another modi- '.1 ned form of the bracket;

Fig. 13 is across-sectional view taken on the line I3-|3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a detail in perspective of the spring of Fig. l2;

Fig. l5 is an exploded perspective view of still another embodiment of my invention; and

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line I-IE of Fig. 15.

Referring now to Figs. l, 2, and 3, the bracket comprises a fixed or supporting plate IU preferably of sheet metal, punched and formed to any desired ornamental contour, but including at least a principal flat body portion II bordered by a rim I2 adapted to bear against a wall. or other supporting surface I3. Rim I2 is of such depth as to define a cavity or space intermediate the portion II and surface I3 for the reception of elements to be detailed. Body portion III is provided with a pair of circular apertures I5 and two rectangular apertures I6 and Il. In order to provide a recess for clearance of the hinge member to be described and a seat for transverse accurate location of the cover plate, the supporting plate lll is preferably indented or embossed over the major portion of its flat extent to dene the shoulder I8 and peripheral recess I9.

For concealing the screws 2I which pass through the apertures I and serve to secure the bracket in place on its supporting surface I3, the cover plate 22 is provided, the same supporting a fixture when the bracket is to be so utilized. Cover plate 22 may be decoratively formed of sheet metal into a shallow cup-like structure having a peripheral rim 23 adapted to lie within the ridge 24 forming the border of the plate II), and to be laterally located by the shoulder I8. At its upper edge the plate 22 is provided with an ear or projection 26 curled or rolled at its outer end into an arcuate hinge portion 2l, best seen in Fig. 3, the latter, upon assembly and closure of the cover plate, extending through the aperture I5 and lying to the rear of the plate IG. At its opposite edge the plate 22 is provided with a latch finger 23 of V cross section, as shown, and adapted upon closure of the plate to pass through the aperture I'I and to be forced into latching engagement with the aperture by means to be described.

Aflixed, as by welding, to the rear face of the iixed plate lll is a resilient member 32 generally on the order of a cantilever leaf spring, the attachment of the spring being facilitated by means of the ear 33 formed by slitting and bending a portion of the principal plane of the spring. Two apertures 34 and 35 are provided therein, the former being in alignment with lower aperture I5, and the latter in alignment with upper aperture I5, the aperture 35 being larger to permit flexure of the spring 32 without the likelihood of binding on the upper screw 2I. At its upper extremitv. spring 32 is curled at 36, the radius thereof being such as to permit nesting of the portion 2l therewithin in any of the angular positions thereof; and just below the curled portion 36 the spring is provided with a substantially UV-shaped bight 3'I including an upper leg 38 forming a smooth continuation of the portion 3B.

In the event-the bracket is to be utilized for supporting a Xture-for example, the soap dish shown in Fig. Ll-the cover plate 22 may be formed with a seat 39 wherein the portion 44.1 of the xiture may be aligned and the two united by weld- For installation of the bracket, the cover plate will be swung away from the supporting plate, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1. Such hinging action occurs as a result of the hinge portion 2 '1 sliding in an arcuate path intermediate the portion 36 of the spring 32 and the adjacent edge of the aperture I6. Fig. 3 shows the cover plate almost at the limit of its opening movement. Thus the apertures i 5-I 5 will be exposed and screws 2| may be driven into position to secure the plate I0 to its supporting surface I3. Cover plate 22 may now be swung to closed position (Fig. l) the portion 2l following the curvature of the portion 36, 'and when the cover is fully closed the portion 21 will rit snugly within the recess I 9, as shown. When closure is complete, Vthe latch 29 is in engagement with the upper edge of the aperture I1.

Friction between the congruent surfaces of portions 21 and 36 provided by spring 32 will insure that cover plate 22 will be mainiilid, i151,

any of its open positions. Moreover, the spring 32 performs the additional function of exerting an upward force whereby portion 2l is forced against the upper edge of the aperture I6. Accordingly, whether plate 22 is in open or closed position, it is constantly forced upwardly to cause either the fiat or curved portion of the ear 2li to bind against the aperture I6 and thus to eliminate any play or rattle inherent in a conventional type of hinge. Furthermore, theupward pressure against plate 22 carries the V-shaped extremity of the latch 29 into contact with the upper edge of the aperture l'I, the relationship of the parts being such that the outer sloping surface of the V bears on the inner upper corner of the aperture in a camming action. In that manner the greater the upward force imparted to the cover plate by the spring, the tighter the latch 29 will be drawn inwardly of the bracket. Thus the cover plate is securely bound against play or rattling at its top and bottom.

In Fig. 6 is shown an alternative form of bracket in which details of construction and operation are generally similar to the form just described, except that the latch is somewhat differently constructed. ln this embodiment the fixed plate Ia is slit (Fig. 5) and the rectangular area thereby dened bent to form a strike 45 and an aperture 46. Cover plate 22a (Figs. 6 and 8) is provided with a latch linger 47 adapted,upon

, closure of the cover plate, to pass through the aperture 46 and to snap over the strike 45, the finger including a shallow depression, as shown, to render the locking action more positive. Spring 32a is constructed and arranged analogously to the spring 32, and is equally effective to provide the necessary friction at the pivotal point'of the cover plate. However, in the em-y bodiment of Fig. 6, the resilientcy of the metal comprising the latch 4l is depended upon to ate ford locking action thereof with respect to the strike 45. If desired, latch 4'I (Fig. 8) may be cut out, as at 43, to increase the resiliency of that member. Figs. 4 and 5, respectively, show the bracket of Fig. 6 in open and closed positions and in use to support a soap tray 50, the latter being preferably welded to the cover plate 22a.

Any of the forms of brackets herein disclosed may be used for carrying a towel bar 50a, such. construction being indicated in Fig. 1l. In Fig. 10 a paper holder 5i is shown, one form of con'-` nection residing in the use of a strap 52 deformed into a U-shaped socket 53, the upper part'of the bail 54 being reduced in diameter at its central portion and thus rotatable in the socket 53 while retained axially thereby. Plate 52 is preferably secured by screws 2l, and is of such dimensions as to be concealed by cover plate 22a. If desired, the bail 54 may be supportedon the exterior of the cover plate 22a, a suitable socket therefor being provided.

Figs. 12, 13, and 14 illustrate still another alternative form of bracket, the supporting plate |017 carrying the hairpin spring 55 secured thereto'by slitting the body portion IIb of the plate and rolling the ears 57 deilned thereby about the two legs of the spring 56 to iix the same as shown. At its upper end the spring 56 is deformed to provide the same characteristics as the spring 32, the co-operation of the spring and cover plate 22D being identical with the form of Fig. l. However, Vcover plate 22o is, in this case, provided with a hook-type of latch 58, the two lateral projections 553--55 whereof are V-shaped in order that the latch, upon closing of the cover 22h, will cam the vertical legs of the spring 56 outwardly, whereupon further inward movement of the cover will permit the legs to restore themselves to their normal position and behind the projections Sil-59 the sloping surface of which serves to cam the cover snugly inwardly and in tight contact with the body portion Hb.

Still' another form of the bracket is shown in Figs. 15 and 1,6 wherein the supporting plate le is identical with. that of Fig. l, but the cover plate 22e is of the type shown in Fig. l2. In this alternative construction the resilient member takes a somewhat different form from the corresponding element of those embodiments hereinbefore described. Such member 5I ccmprises a flat body 62 having the bi'ght 63 and curled projection 64 functioning the same as the corresponding parts of spring 32. From the sides of the body 62 arms 65 extend, and these support the wings S6 at right angles thereto. The latter terminate in portions Elv in the same plane as body 62, and are guided in their lateral displacement by tongues 68, the entire spring being of one-piece construction and attached to the rear of the' cover plate IU preferably by welding. peration will be obvious from Fig. 16, the latch 5'8 during `closing of the cover 22C camming the portions 61' in opposite lateral directions, whereupon the portions Bl move resiliently behind the projections 59 to cam the cover tightly into closed position. Opening is the reverse of such opera tion. During the closing opera-tion, distortion of they portions 61 rearwardly is prevented by tongues 68, these meanwhile permitting the necessary lateral movement.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many inodincations may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

I. A xture bracket comprising a supporting plate adapted to be secured to a wall or other support by securing means, a cover member having means for carrying the iixture, hinge means connectingA said cover member to said plate, said cover member being adapted to conceal said securing means when swung into juxtaposition with said plate, and a separate resilient element secured to said plate at a point removed from said hinge means. having a portion bearing against t and forming a part of said hinge means for retaining said cover member in non-vibrating relation with said plate.

2. A fixture bracket comprising a supporting plate adapted to be secured to a wall r other support by securing means, a cover member having means for carrying the fixture, hinge means connecting said cover member to said plate, said cover member being adapted to conceal said securing means when swung into juxtaposition with said plate, latching means for locking said member into said juxtaposed position, and a resilient element secured to said plate at a point removed from said hinge means having a portion bearing against and forming a part of said hinge means and coactive with said latching means for retaining said member in non-vibrating, securely locked relation with said plate.

8. Bracket means for supporting a xture comprising a supporting plate having apertures to receive headed means for securing said plate to a wall or other surface, a cover plate adapted to conceal said headed means, a hinged connection between said platessaid hinged connection including an aperture in said supporting plate, an arcuate ear extending from said cover plate and protruding through said aperture, and a resilient member attached to said supporting plate and having an arcuate portion in frictional engagement with said ear whereby in any hinged position of said cover plate the same is constrained to remain in thatv position.

4. Bracket means for supporting a fixture comprising a supporting plate for attachment to a Wall or other surface and having apertures to receive headed fastenings adapted to enter the surface,` a cover plate to which the xture is attached to conceal the fastenings when in facetoface relation with said supporting plate, said supporting plate having a cavity in the rear thereof and an aperture therethrough spaced inwardly from the margin of the cavity, said cover plate having an arcuate rearwardly extending ear adapted to pass through said aperture and to bear against the wall of said cavity,I and a resilient member secured to said supporting plate and having a free end bearing against said ear to maintain the same in frictional contact with said supporting plate whereby said cover plate may be swung relatively to said supporting plate and maintained in any angular position relatively thereto. 4

5. A device of the class described comprising a fixed plate for securement toa supporting surface and having apertures to receive means for effecting such` securement, a cover plate hingedly secured to said 'xed plate and` adapted to be brought into position for concealing said means or to' be swung out of said, position for access 40 to said xed plate, said cover plate having an arcuate projection, andsaid xed plate having a cavity at the rear thereof and an aperture through its principal plane and opening into said cavity through which aperture said projectionV extends, and a leaf spring anixed at one end to said fixed plate and having an arcuate free end to coincide substantially with said projection whereby said cover plate may be swung relatively to said fixed plate and when closed main tained non-vibratingly with respect to said xed plate, said arcuate projection, said aperture and said arcuate free end coacting to form the hinged connection between said plates.

6. A device of the class, described comprising a fixed platey for securement to a supporting surface and havingapertures to receive means for effecting such securement, a cover plate hinged to said xed plate and adapted to be brought into o position for concealing said means or to be swung out of said position for access to said fixed plate, said cover plate having an arcuate projection and said fixed plate having a cavity at the rear thereof and an aperture through its principal plane opening into` said cavity and through which aperture said projection extends, a leaf spring aixed at one` end to' said fixed plate and having an arcuate free end to coincide substantially with said projection whereby said cover plate may be swung relatively to said iixed plate and when closed maintained non-vibratingly with respect to said xed plate, and latching means common to said plates for locking sai-d cover plate in concealing position, said arcuate projection, said aperture andv said arcuate free end coacting to form the hinged, connection ,between isaid plates.

'7. A device of the class described comprising a fixed plate for securement to a supporting suriace and having apertures to receive means for effecting such securement, a cover plate adapted to be brought into position for concealing said means and to be swung out of said position for access to said xed plate, said cover plate having an arcuate projection and said xed plate having a cavity at the rear thereof and an aperture through its principal plane opening into said cavity and through which aperture said projection extends, a leaf spring afxed at one end to said fixed plate and having an arcuate free end to i coincide substantially with said projection, and said spring having a substantially U-shaped bight adjacent said arcuate end and abutting said projection to thrust that portion thereof extending through said aperture into contact with the margin of said aperture and said arcuate end maintaining hinged relation of said projection With said supporting plate.

8. A device of the class described comprising a fixed plate for securement to a wall or other support and including a principal plane portion and a peripheral rim defining a cavity between the support and plate, said plate having means for attaching the plate to the support, a cover plate in hinged relation to said fixed plate and adapted when in face-to-face relation therewith to conceal said attaching means, said hinge means comprising a projection extending from said cover plate `and an'aperture in said fixed plate having at least one straight edge against which a at portion of said projection may abut, a resilient member secured at one end to said xed plate and having a curled free end, and said projection terminating in a curled portion in abutting relation with a corner of said cavity, said curled portion and free end being in frictional engagement.

9. A device of the class described comprising a fixed plate for securement to a wall or other support and including a principal plane portion and a peripheral rim defining a cavity between the support and plate, said plate having means for attaching the plate to the support, a cover plate in hinged relation to said xed plate and adapted when in face-to-face relation therewith to conceal said attaching means, the hinge means comprising a projection extending from said cover plate and an aperture in said fixed plate having at least one straight edge against which a flat portion of said projection may abut, a resilient member secured at one end to said xed plate and having a curled free end, said resilient member having a U-shaped bight adjacent 'its curled end, one side of said bight abutting said at portion and maintaining the same in engagement with the straight edge of said aperture, and said projection terminating in a curled portion in abutting relation with a corner of said cavity, said curled portion and free end being in frictional engagement whereby no loose play may exist between said plates.

10. A device of the class described comprising a fixed plate for securement to a wall or other support and including a principal plane portion and a peripheral rim defining a cavity between the support and plate, said plate having means .for attaching the plate to the support, a cover plate in hinged relation to said fixed plate and adapted when in face-to-face relation therewith to conceall said V'attaching means, the hinge means comprising a projection extending from said cover plate and an aperture in said fixed plate having at least one straight edge against which a flat portion of said projection may abut, a resilient member secured at one end to said fixed plate and having a curled free end, said resilient member having a U-shaped bight adjacent its curled end, one side of said bight abutting said at portion and maintaining the same in engagement with the straight edge of said aperture, and said projection terminating in a curled portion in abutting relation witha corner of said cavity, said curled portion and free end being in frictional engagement whereby no loose play may exist between said plates, and latchingmeans intermediate said plates for locking said cover plate in concealing position.

ll. A device of the class described comprising a xed plate for securement to a wall or other support having at least one aperture for receiving means for effecting such securement, a cover plate for concealing said means, a, hinge interconnecting said plates for permitting movement of said cover plate to positions to expose said means or to conceal the same, a latch projection extending from said cover plate, and a single resilient member attached to said xed plate and including an element frictionally engaging said hinge and an element co-operative with said latch whereby said cover plate is maintained non-vibratingly in concealing positionand said latch is tensioned in locking position. 12. A device of lthe cla-ss described comprising a xed plate for securement to a wall or, other surface and having apertures to receive securing means, said plate including a substantially flat body portion and a rim therearound to define a cavity between said plate and the surface, said plate having an aperture adjacent one side thereof and a second aperture adjacent the opposite side, a cover plate for concealing said securing means and including an ear adapted to pass through said rst aperture, the ear being curled on its inner end and within said cavity and frictionally engaging the surfaces of said body portion and rim near their intersection, a resilient member attached to said xed plate by one end and having its free end curled Isubstantially congruently with the curled end of said ear to `frictionally bear thereagainst, the member having a substantially U-shaped bight adjacent its curled end and protruding therefrom and through said rst aperture, a second projection extending from said cover plate through said second aperture and bent to latch therewith, the resiliency of said bight being eiiective additionally to maintain said curled end into engagement with said surfaces and said second projection tightly in latched conditi-on.

13. A device of the class described comprising in combination a fixed .plate for securement to a wall or other support, a cover plate in hinged relation to said fixed plate and adapted, when in closed relation with respect to said iixed plate to conceal the securing means, hinge means inter- Y connecting said plates, latching means common to said plates, and resilient means secured to said plate at a point removed from said hinge means and having a portion bearing against said hinge means for applying friction to said hinge means and latching means to insure a snug t between said plates when in closed relation.

14. Bracket means for supporting a fixture comprising a supporting plate for flxedsecurement to a wall or other surface, a cover plate adapted to conceal at least a portion of said plate, a hinged connection between said plates, said hinged connection including an aperture in said supporting plate, an arcuate ear extending from said cover plate and protruding through said aperture, and a resilient member attached to said supporting plate having anarcuate portion in frictional engagement with said ear whereby in any hinged position of lsaid cover plate the same is constrained to remain in that position.

15. Bracket means for supporting a iixture comprising a supporting plate for fixed securement to a wall or `other surface, a cover plate adapted to conceal at least a portion of said plate, a hinged connection between said plates, said hinged connection including an aperture in one of said plates, an arcuate car extending from the other of said plates and protruding through said aperture, and a resilient member attached to said one plate having anarcuate p01'- tion in frictional engagement .with said ear whereby in any hinged .position of said cover plate the same is constrained to remain in that position.

16. An escutcheon plate construction compris- 10 ing a fixed part having means for securement to a support, a movable part connected by hinge means to said xed part and adapted to conceal said securing means when in face-to-face relation to 'said iiXed part and to expose said securing means when hinged away from said iiXed part, a resilient member secured to one of said parts remote from said hinge means and bearing against said hinge means thereby coacting with said parts for maintaining a snug relation between -said parts adjacent said hinge in any angular relative hinged positions of said parts.

PAUL F. SIMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,065,875 eagy et al. June 24, 1913 1,898,511 Turnquist Feb. 21, 1933 2,127,230 Moineau Aug.` 16, 1938 2258,264 Schultz Oct. 7, 1941 2,327,969 Sanford Aug. 24, 1943 

